50+ Youth Congress workers detained after clash with ABVP members
What's the story
Pune Police have registered an FIR against over 50 Youth Congress workers after a clash between the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and the National Students Union of India (NSUI) at the College of Engineering, Pune (COEP) hostel campus on Friday night. The clash erupted ahead of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's 'Chhatron Ki Goonj' event in the city. Police have been deployed in large numbers at the COEP hostel campus after the clash.
Disputed claims
ABVP, NSUI trade allegations
ABVP State Secretary Atharva Kulkarni alleged that NSUI workers intimidated university students into attending Gandhi's program.
Kulkarni claimed that organizers were struggling to get an audience.
"Around 100-150 NSUI workers entered the COEP campus and heckled female students. Some of the students who tried to intervene were also targeted," he alleged.
However, NSUI cadres denied these allegations, claiming they protested against ABVP's attempts to stop students from attending Gandhi's event.
NSUI
200-300 students was chasing them away: NSUI
NSUI cadres claimed that some university students had planned to attend Gandhi's program to raise the issue of scholarship money that they said they were not receiving.
NSUI State President Sagar Salunke said he received a call from the hostel stating that ABVP members were threatening orphaned students.
"When I arrived, a crowd of 200-300 students was chasing them away, shouting, 'Get out of here!' That was when I stepped in to intervene."
Twitter Post
We will fight with five times the strength: NSUI
#WATCH | Pune, Maharashtra | On allegations leveled by ABVP, NSUI State President Sagar Salunke says, "It is an absolute lie... They should check the CCTV footage; the cameras had been turned off because ABVP goons had arrived there before us and threatened people. I received a… https://t.co/uNo5m1xz8W pic.twitter.com/ZH5Wv0s4T5
— ANI (@ANI) August 22, 2026
Legal action
FIR registered under various sections
He further said the FIR filed against them was like a badge of honor.
"We are fighting for students, and this will only strengthen our resolve," he said.
An FIR has been registered against 50-60 Youth Congress workers under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Maharashtra Police Act. The complaint was lodged by an ABVP member.
Sections include voluntarily causing simple physical hurt, unlawful assembly, and criminal intimidation.
Gandhi
Organizers expect a crowd of almost 10,000
This edition of 'Chhatron Ki Goonj' will focus on female students, and the Pune police have granted permission for the event to take place under 30 strict conditions.
The campaign began in Kota in June and then was held in Dehradun and Prayagraj before the Pune edition.
The Pune event would take place on Saturday evening at the AISSMS College of Engineering College Ground in the Shivajinagar area.
According to IE, organizers expect a crowd of almost 10,000.